BEAUVAIS, LATE 17TH/ EARLY 18TH CENTURY

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Royal Beauvais Manufactory produced two distinct series of the 'Metamorphoses', distinguished by the size of the figures depicted. Other subjects which can with certainty be included in the series are in order of the Beauvais records, 1. 'The Abduction of Orinthia' by Boreas, 2. 'Vertumnus and Pomona', 3. 'Alpheius and Arethusa', 4. 'Cephalus and Procris', and 5. 'Diana and Callisto'. The appearance of five tapestries of the same subject but with partially varying panels may indicate that the series may have consisted of ten panels in total. Five different borders are recorded, this one being apparently unique.